Technological Innovation in Women-Owned Firms

Abstract

This study seeks to determine the influence of the underlying factors that facilitate the growth and implementation of new technologies within women-owned businesses. In the proposed model, market growth mediates the relationship between the individual antecedents (entrepreneurial intensity and opportunity costs) and technological change. Using the two-step approach for measurement analysis and structural equation modelling, results revealed that the process by which women entrepreneurs implement new technological changes is influenced by their decision to expand the business. Entrepreneurial intensity and the entrepreneur's willingness to incur opportunity costs were key motivating factors that compelled the entrepreneur to seek new growth strategies. Implications for research and practice related to ways in which entrepreneurs' strategic focus can enable technological innovations are discussed.